Chapter 3: Funerals, memorials, and other rituals

"I'm sorry for your loss"

Thank you.

A common saying following a death is: I’m sorry for your loss. This can confuse some children. They may interpret this as an apology and wonder: Did this person cause the death in some way? Or, Why is this person apologizing when he didn’t cause the death? Others simply don’t know how to respond.

Let your child know they’re likely to hear this. Explain that it’s not an apology for wrong doing but a way to express sadness over the person’s death.

Give them the language to respond. This can be as simple as: Thank you.